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Naked man brought to Derry court

30 Apr 2014

A naked man was brought to Londonderry Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with causing criminal damage to three cells in Strand Road Police Station by smearing his faeces on the walls, ceilings, bunks and cameras of the cells.

A police officer told District Judge Barney McElholm that Rodney Bonnes, 29, from the Simon Community at Melrose Terrace in the Waterside area of the city, was arrested on Tuesday afternoon after he was seen urinating while drunk in the city centre.The officer said the defendant struggled with officers both in the city centre and in the police station.She described the defendant's behaviour as disgusting and said he spat blood into the face of another officer.When a mask was put over his mouth he ate it and while in custody he smeared his faeces over three police cells.She said the defendant also took off his clothes and refused to put them back on saying: "I want to appear in court before District Judge Barney Malcolm in a soiled state."The officer said the defendant put on his clothes immediately before his court appearance.In court, Mr Malcolm warned the defendant several times about his behaviour.When he was asked by his solicitor if he wished to purge his contempt, the defendant replied: "Are you serious?"The District Judge remanded the defendant in custody until 22 May and also jailed him for 28 days for contempt.As he was led from the dock by prison officers, the defendant said: "Great, free B and B."